9 replies

I would suggest a National strategy as follows:1. Educate people who already have diabetes on how to keep control. This includes, but not limited to, promoting frequent autotesting of their blood glucose levels so they know how they are doing and react to their glucose redings.

2. Educate general people on healthy life styles, which includes a good nutrition and exercising habits. This may be achieved by launching massive media campaigns, presentations at universities, etc.

3. Educate children at schools and by media spots on healthy living, so they grow up with a different view of life and nutrition.

I suppose that the money that would be spend in any meaningful startegies will always be a lot less than what is being spent in treating the diabetic people (hospital costs, amputations, drugs, etc.).

I wish I were giving this opinion as a public health expert; but I am nothing like that, just a 12-year diabetic who has been struggling with diabetic leg ulcers and all these complications, just for not being aware of the risks of overindulging and living a sedentary life.

I don't know our statistic here in the US, but it seems to be very similar. When a country gets away from the struggles of life and lives in indulgences like we do, it suffers all of us. I live an indulgent lifestyle, as do many of us here in the US, whether we have money or not. We are very privileged people, as are yours. The only thing that is waking us up is our battle with obesity, heart disease, cancer and other chronic illnesses such as diabetes.
Our indulgent ways are hard to give up as long as you "feel fine" or are not effected by it. I believe here in the US what is turning the tables is the fact that our children are suffering because of our bad habits.
Like John mentioned, changing our diets from junk foods, highly processed, sugary, empty calories or high fat foods is where we can start. Some people will develop diabetes no matter what they do, but many, many of us can avoid it if we take action in our youth. We as adults need to train our children to eat right, to exercise more and to live an active healthy life away from the sedentary ways of privaledged cultures such as ours.
It is not going to come from government controlls, sugar-free foods or doctor warnings. True change is going to come from a parent taking time to develop good habits for themselves...their children will learn by example.
I can remember when eating at McDonalds was a once in a while treat. Not an everyday occurance. I remember weekends of camping and hiking, not tv and video games. Family vacations were outdoors and exciting, not lazy and relaxing.
So it will start with each of us, taking the time to be better for ourselves, and then for our kids. We taught them the bad habbits, we can teach them good ones too.

Many studies relate Type 2 diabetes (insulin resistance, diabesity) to diet — overconsumption, and consumption of possibly poisonous ingredients (trans fats, high-fructose corn syrup, etc.) — and to lack of physical activity. Getting people to make positive changes in lifestyle requires knowing what triggers these responses, and how to encourage them. In a society that is deeply religious, this can be affected by religious discussion and by community efforts to make dietary changes within the religious framework. For example, if there is ongoing discussion about what foods are "halal" and what are "haram", is there a place for the discussion of HFCS and transfats? If lack of physical activity is an issue among both women and men, can a women-only gym system (such as "Curves" in the US) and a men-only gym system (such as "Cuts" in the US) encourage people to exercise within the boundaries of physical modesty?

What is also important is that the community be addressed within a cultural idiom it understands. Regardless of the level of religious belief in a Muslim society, the society needs to be addressed within the language and idiom of that culture. The Jewish and Christian communities have sites and groups of people with diabetes, and people trying to make an observant religious life more compatible with diabetes management. Jewish Friends With Diabetes (http://www.friendswithdiabetes.org/) has a number of briefs on how to manage diabetes while observing major Jewish holidays; the Jewish Diabetes Association (http://www.jewishdiabetes.org/index.html) does similarly — plus it sells a cookbook of traditional Jewish recipes adapted to be healthier for people with diabetes. Perhaps there are some cooks and chefs who can do something similar for traditional Saudi recipes? JDA also has links to, and ties with, kashrut-certification agencies. If it is appropriate to do something like this within a Muslim framework, you might want to approach some of the halal-certification agencies.

These are just some basic ideas based on what has developed in the Eurocentric, Judeo-Christian world. They may, or may not, be acceptable in the Saudi culture. Hopefully, they have given you something to think about.

Dr. Dag,I hope someday this community has the kind of power to solve the problems of nations. However, currently we are in a much stronger position to help individuals with information, support, encouragement, and understanding.

As for your nation of SA, I hope you can find ways to educate your fellow citizens about healthy diets and the benefits of exercise. Have you seen a shift in diet to a more Western diet with highly processed foods and empty sugar calories?